Treasurer Mandel Wants to Ban Sanctuary Cities
Though Mayor Ginther’s executive order did not make Columbus a sanctuary city, it banned the use of government resources to expel immigrants and undocumented immigrants.
Now, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mendel (R), is backing a proposed bill that would hold city officials criminally liable for any crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Officials could be given a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Public officials could face up $1 million in fines if a person is injured by an immigrant.
The bill would also prohibit cities from sheltering refugees and immigrants who may be here illegally.
The bill was introduced by freshman state Rep. Candice Keller, who, according to the Dispatch, “blamed immigrants and their ‘culture’ for committing crimes, including assaults and rape, and bringing in ‘sexually transmitted diseases’…She said refugee resettlement is not about humanitarianism, but about importing ‘cheap labor’ and violence.'”
The bill would essentially ban sanctuary cities in Ohio and prohibit any local jurisdiction or state official from withholding information from federal agencies regarding the immigrant status of an individual living in the state of Ohio.
In response to Treasurer Josh Mandel’s legislation announcement earlier today, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s spokesperson Robin Davis released the following statement:
“As Mayor Ginther said on Friday, he will continue to uphold the rule of law and protect all Columbus residents. Nothing in his executive order is in violation of federal law. Just as it is not the role of immigration officials to investigate a theft in Columbus, federal courts have ruled that local police do not have authority to make their own immigration arrests. Unlike Treasurer Josh Mandel, Mayor Ginther will not use fear as a reason for discrimination and will not pick and choose who he protects based on religion or national origin.
“Regardless of one’s views on immigration, it is reprehensible and unconstitutional to use Ohio criminal law in an attempt to shut down differing opinions on this issue.”
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